Refrigerating apparatus



E. DICKEY Sept. 4, 1934.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS original Filed Feb. 2s,

1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 in y if W n y# i Uu m mu n JU m i u mi w U m H f@i 7 w u n U v QT. l #i y /2 5 i i Il I a a 9 3 lv 3 f Sept 4, 1934i E.DlcKEY REFRIGERATING'APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 26, 1952'- 5Sheets-Sheet 2 4 :1 i 4 Y f l v v 4f/ 1 5 z 7 4./ T n i/, A. 4

hl, SHOM.

Sept. 4, 1934. E. DlcKEY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS original Filed Feb. 26,1952 5 sheets-sheet 5 Sept. 4, 1934. E. DlcKEY 1,972,551

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 26, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4ha: www1.

Sept. 4, 1934. E. DlcKEY 1,972,551

EFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 25, 1952 l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 vn i u l n l Patented Sept. 4, 1934 PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUSErnest Dickey, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to Frigidaire Corporation, Dayton,Ohio, a corporation o! Delaware Application February 26, 1932, SerialNo. 595,359 Renewed.November 2, 1933 1s claims. (01. sz-12s) Thisinvention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly toevaporators of such apparatus.

An object of my-invention is to provide a sheet metal evaporatorconstruction having, between the liquid refrigerant inlet and thegaseous refrigerant outlet connections thereof, an improved refrigerantflow circuit including a portion connected in series with the inletconnection and another portion including interconnected passagesconnected in parallel circuit relation with the outlet connection.

In carrying out the foregoing object, it is a further object of myinvention to form one portion and at least a part of the other portionof the refrigerant flow circuit, through the evapora-tor, between sheetmetal members bent to provide walls of an. enclosure and to utilize theportion ofthe refrigerant ilow circuit connected in series with therefrigerant inlet connection, as-a freezing portion or zone and toutilize the passages of the flow circuit, connected in parallel circuitrelation with the outlet connection, as a refrigerant distributingportion or air cooling zone for the evaporator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the' accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown. l

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 discloses a refrigerator cabinet having my improved evaporatorinstalled therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of my improved evaporator having thedoor thereof removed and showing compartments with ice trays mountedtherein;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the evaporator shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the evaporator and istaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the evaporator taken ontheline 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through another portion of theevaporator and is taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the evaporator disclosed in Fig. 2 showinglmanifolds therein;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through another portion of theevaporator and taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3; l

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. Zand shows the front of a modified formof evaporator constructed according to the invention;

. Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the modied form ofevaporator'shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is abottom view of the evaporator disclosed in Fig. 9 showingmanifolds formed therein;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the modified form ofevaporator and is taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view through another portion of themodified form of the evaporator taken on the line'13-13 of Fig. 10.

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown in Fig. 1 of the drawingsan evaporator 20 constructed according to my invention mounted Ain arefrigerator vcabinet 21 of any suitable con- 70 struction. Preferablythe cabinet comprises a food storage compartment 22 having a door 23providing access theretoand a machine compartment (not shown) disposedabove the compartment 22. The refrigerant liquefying unit of therefrigerating system, connected with the evaporator 20, may be of anysuitable type and is adapted to be mounted in the machine compartmentdisposed above compartment 22. Mechanical refrigerating apparatus of theconstruction disclosed are well known to those familiar with the art andherein needsnofurther description. l

Since my invention is directed to a finished evaporator structure themethod of forming my improved evaporator will not be herein dealt within detail. My evaporator isLproduced by uniting in any suitablemanner-superimposed sheet metal members 25 and 26 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 8)to provide a double wall structure having passages formed between themembers. The double sheet metal members 25 and 26 are bent to form adouble metal top wall 27, a bottom wall 28 and vside walls 29 and 31 ofa horizontally disposed enclosure. A liquid refrigerant inlet conduitconnection 32 and a .gaseous refrigerant outlet connection 33 areconnected to the top wall 2'? of evaporator 20 and communicate with thespace between the sheet metal members. The refrigerant connection 32 isconnected with a refrig- 100 erant control device (not shown) whichcontrols or governs the flow of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator.This device may be in the form of an expansion or fioat valve andpreferably a high side float valve well known in the art. Therefrigerant connection 33 leads from the evaporator 20 to the crankcaseor suction side of a compressor usually employed in refrigerantliquefying units for withdrawing gaseous or vaporized refrigerant f fromthe evaporator. In order to provide a freezi Il ing portion and arefrigerant distributing or air cooling portion for the evaporator, arefrigerant duct 35 is formed by and located between the sheet metalmembers 25 and 26 at the front of the evaporator. liquid refrigerantinlet connection 32 and extends therefrom across the top wall 27, sidewalls 29 and 31 and across at least a portion of the bottom wall 28 ofthe enclosure (see Fig. 5) The freezing portion of the refrigerant flowcircuit or of the evaporator includes a means in the form of a shelf 36which divides the enclosure formed byv the double sheet metal walls 27,28, 29 and 31 into two superimposed compartments 37 and 38. The shelfmeans 36 comprises two superimposed sheet metal plates or members 41 and42 (see Fig. 8) secured together in any suitable manner. The lower plateor member 42 of shelf 36 has formed therein depressions which, when theplates 41 and 42 are secured together, provide arefrigerant passage orduct leading from the duct 35 formed in walls 27, 28, 29 and 31,horizontally through the enclosure. This refrigerant duct in shelf 36includes a passage 43 communicating with the refrigerant duct 35, formedin each side wall 29 and 31 yof the enclosure, by hollow bushings 44secured to the inner sheet metal member 25 and to the shelf 36 (see Fig.4). A sinuous or serpentine passage 45 also formed by and locatedbetween the sheet metal ymembers 41 and 42 of shelf 36 has its one end46 connected ywith/the passage 43. The opposite end 47 ofthe serpentinepassage 45 is connected with a passage 48 in shelf 36 which passage issimilar to passage 43 formed therein. A refrigerant duct or conduit 51formed by and located between the sheet metal members 25 and 26 formingthe walls 27, 28, 29 and 31 is disposed at the rear of the evaporator.By reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings it may be seen that refrigerantconduit 5l is similar vto refrigerant duct 35 and extends around thewalls 27, 28, 29 and 3l ofthe enclosure. This refrigerant conduit 51communicates with the passage 48 in shelf 36 on each side of theenclosure by connecting bushings 44a secured to the inner sheet metalmember`25 of the enclosure walls. The refrigerant conduit5l-'communicates at its lower ends, locatedvin the bottom wall 28 of theenclosure, with a pair of manifolds 53 and 54 formed by and locatedbetween the sheet metal members 25 and 26. A plurality of conduits orpassages 55 formed by and located between the members 25 and 26 areconnected with the manifold.53 and extend around at least a portion ofthe bottom and top walls 28 and 27 and traverses the side wall 29 oftheenclosure. AAnother plurality of'refrigerant ducts or the conduits 56similar to ducts 55 communicate with the manifold 54 and extend aroundat least a portion of the bottom rand top walls 28 and 27 and traversesthe side wall 31 of the enclosure. Each set of the plurality of conduitsor passages 55 and 56-are interconnected, or communicate with thegaseousrefrigerant outlet connection 33 of the evaporator, by means of amanifold 58 formed by and located between the members 25 and 26 in thetop wall 27 of the horizontally disposed enclosure.' i

From the above description of the refrigerant passages, ducts andconduitsit may be seen that I have provided a refrigerant flow circuitthrough the sheet metal evaporator 20', between the refrigerant inletand outlet connections located in the top wall thereof, which includesan extended portion `connected in series with the liquid refrigerantinlet connection 32 and another por- Duct 35 communicates with the' and54 to y connections 32 and 33 of the evaporator 20, the

portion connected in series with inlet 32 includes the passage or duct35 formed in the walls of the enclosure, conduits or passages 43, 45 and48 formed in the shelf 36, conduit or duct 5l formed in the wall of theenclosure and the manifold passages 53 and 54 formed between the membersof the bottom wall of the enclosure. The portion of the refrigerant flowcircuit connected in parallel circuit relation includes the plurality ofducts or passages 55 and 56 extending from the manifolds 53 and54 to themanifold 58 having the refrigerant outlet 33 connected thereto.

In dening the foregoing mentioned passages, conduits or ducts it is tobe understood that each passage is sealed about its edges by uniting themetal members 25 and 26 between the passages formed therebetween. vSincerefrigerant is first circulated from the liquid refrigerant inletconnection 32 in a series path to or through the shelf means 36 thisshelf provides a quick freezing support or freezing zone for ice traysor the like. Also since refrigerant is circulated in a series pathdirectly from the shelf means 36 to `or through the manifolds 53 and 54located in the bottom wall 28 of the enclosure this bottom wall 28la.lso provides a quick freezing support or freezing zone for ice trays orthe like. rAfter passing through the support or shelf 36 and bottom wall28 of the enclosure the refrigerant is distributed by` manifolds 53 thepassages 55 and 56. -These passages 55 and 56 being formed'inthe wallsof the enclosure to provide air cooling portions for the evaporator.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the drawings I have shown a modifiedevaporator construction in which the enclosure of the evaporator is notdivided into a plurality of compartments. This modified form ofevaporator construction is `adapted for installation in smallrefrigerator cabinets and is adapted to receive ice trays on ent fromthe following description that this modif-led form of evaporator alsocomprises the refrigerant flow circuit heretofore described, withreference to evaporator 20, while the portion of the flow circuitconnected in series with the inlet connection is not of as great alength as in the case of evaporator 20. The evaporator 20a in Figs. 9,10, 11, 12 and 13 of the drawings includes superimposed sheet metalmembers or plates 25a and,26a. (see Figs. 12 and 13) secured togetherand bent to form a horizontally disposed freezing enclosure 60comprising the double metal walls 27a, 28a, 29a and 31a. Refrigerantinlet and outlet connections 32a. and 33a, respectively are located inthe top wall 27a of the evaporator 20a.. A refrigeranty duct or conduit35a communicates with the refrigerant inlet connection 32a and is formedby and located between the sheet metal members 25a and 26a and extendsaround the walls 27a, 28a, 29a. and 31a. (see Fig. 12). One end of theduct 35a communicates with a manifold 53a formed by and located betweenthe members 25a and 26a in the bottom wall 28a of evaporator 20a. Theother end of duct 35a communicates with a manifold 54a formed by andlocated between'the members 25a and 26a in the bottom wall 28a. ofevaporator 20a. A plurality of refrigerant passages or conmembers 25aand 26a in the top wall 27a of the evaporator. The gaseous refrigerantoutlet connection 33a communicates with the manifold 58a..

From the above description of theconstruction of the modified form ofevaporator 20a. `and the refrigerant passages, conduits vor ducts formedtherein it may be seen that this form of evaporator also comprises arefrigerant flow circuit, between the refrigerant inletv and outletconnections located in the top Wall thereof ,which includes an extendedportion connected in series with the liquid refrigerant inletconnection' 32a and another portion connected 'in parallel circuitrelation and communicating with the gaseous refrigerant outletconnection 33a. To fully point out the refrigerant flow circuit throughthis modified evaporator 20a the refrigerant circuit connected in serieswith the inlet connection 32a, includes the duct 35a and the manifolds53a and 54a communicating with the duct 35a. The portion of therefrigerant flow "circuit connected in parallel circuit relation withthe gaseous refrigerant outlet connection `33a includes the refrigerantpassages or conduits 55a and 56a and the manifold passage 58a. It beingunderstood that the refrigerant passages, conduits or ducts are allsealed around their edges by securing the metalmembers 25a and 26atogether between the ducts formed therebetween. Thus the bottom wall 28aof evaporator 20a or enclosure 60 provides a quick freezing support orfreezing zone for ice trays by virtue of receiving refrigerant directlyfrom the refrigerant inlet. The re frigerant ducts or passages 55a and56a form an air cooling portion for the evaporator by virtue ofrefrigerant being distributed by the manifolds 53a and 54a to theseducts or passages. y

The evaporator 20 or 20a may, if desired, include a door 6l pivotallymounted thereto by hinges or the like 62 to close the enclosure at thefront of the evaporator and to provide access to the interior of theenclosure 60 or compartments 37 and'38. A cover 63 may also be mountedon the evaporator 20 or 20a in any suitable manner if desired to closeAthe rear end of the enclosure. Mounting' means for the evaporator 20 or20a comprise studs 65 welded ory otherwise secured to the top wall 2'7or 27a`of the evaporator. It is to be understood that the entireevaporator 20 or 20a. may be coated or plated with any suitablematerial, for example, it may be coated with vitreous enamel or it maybe chrome plated.

By providing a sheet metal evaporator having means formed in a pluralityof walls thereof for circulating a refrigerant from an inlet connectionlocated in the top wall of the evaporator to a lower portion thereof,andto a fast freezing support within the evaporator, I have eliminated arefrigerant conducting pipe separate from` the evaporator, and usually`extending around the evaporator from its supporting wall. The omissionof a pipe separate from the evaporator and ordinarily extendingtherearound and to a lower portion thereofl in addition to improving thegeneral appearanceof the interior of the refrigera-Y tor cabinetalsopermits walls of the, evaporator to be cleaned` withoutinterference. Y

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a novelsheetmetal evaporator having animprove'd and efficient refrigerant flowcircuit formed in the walls of the evaporator between the refrigerantinlet and outlet connectionsy thereof which includes a portion providinga quick freezing' or freezing zone and another portion providing an aircooling zone for the evaporator.

While the form of embodiment of `the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it vis tobe :understood that other formsmight be fadopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows: y

1. `An evaporator'` comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform `a plurality of walls of a freezing enclosure, a liquidrefrigerantinlet connection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet connectionin the top wall of said enclosure, a manifold passage formed by kandlocated between said sheet metal members in another wall of saidenclosure, a refrigerant conveying duct having a portion thereofformedby and located betweenV said sheet metal members and `communicatingWithsaid, inletconnection,v a plurality of refrigerantconveyingkconduits formed by and located between said sheetl metal members andcommunicating with said outlet connection, said refrigerant ductincluding means communicating with said manifold passage and said maniyfold passage communicating with said plurality of refrigerant conduitsto provide between 'the inlet and outlet connections of said evaporatora refrigerant flow circuit including an extended portion in series withsaid inlet connection` and another portion in parallel circuit relationwith said` outlet connection, the means permitting communication of saidrefrigerant duct with said manifold passage4 including means dividingsaid enclosure into superimposedV compartments.

2. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent' toform four walls of an elongated horizontally disposed enclosure, aliquid refrigerant inlet connection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet`connection in the top wallr of said enclosure, a plurality ofrefrigerant conveying ducts formedby and located between said sheetVmetal members and traversing at least a portion'of a 'side,'top andbottom wall of said enclosure, said plurality of krefrigerant ducts.communicating 'with one another and with said outlet'connection, arefrigerant conveying voonduit having at least a portion ythereof formedby and located between said sheet metal members, said refrigerantconduit traversing at least a portion of a side. top and bottom Wall ofsaid enclosure, and said` refrigerant conduit communicating with saidrefrigerant ductsand with said inletconnectionto provide between 'saidrefrigerant inlet' and outlet connections of said evaporator jarefrigerant flow circuit fincluding an extended portion in series withsaid inleticonnection and another portion in parallel circuit relationwith` said" outlet connection, said communication of said refrigerantconduit with said refrigerant ducts includingmeans dividing *saidenclosure into superimposed compartments. l i

3. An` evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal 4members bent toform four walls of an elongated horizontally disposed freezingenclosure, a liquid refrigerant inlet connection and a gaseousrefrigerant outlet connection in the top wall of said enclosure, a,plurality of manifolds formed by and located between said sheet 5 metalmembers in the bottom wall of said enclosure, two passages each havingat least a portion thereof formed between said sheet'metal members, oneof said passages communicating with said inlet connection and with oneof said manifolds and the other of said passages communicating with saidinlet connection and with the other of said manifolds to provide pathsof flow for refrigerant from said inlet connection to said manifolds,two sets of a plurality of conmetal members and traversing at least aportion of a plurality of walls of said enclosure, one set of saidconduits communicating in parallel circuit relation with one of saidmanifolds and the other set of said conduits communicating in parallelcircuit relation with the other .of said manifolds, and both sets ofsaid conduits being in open communication with said gaseous refrigerantoutlet connection.v

4. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform four walls of an elongated horizontally disposed freezingenclosure,`a liquid refrigerant inlet connection and a gaseousrefrigerant outlet connection in the top wall of said enclosure, aplurality of manifolds formed by and located between said sheet metalmembers in the bottom wall of said enclosure, two passages each havingat least a portion thereof formed between said sheet metal members, oneof said passages communicating with said inlet connection and with oneof said manifolds and the `other of said passages communicating withsaid inlet connection and with the other of said manifolds to providepaths of flow for refrigerant from said inlet connection to saidmanifolds, two sets of a plurality of conduits formed by and locatedbetween said sheet metal members and traversing at least a portion of aplurality of walls of said enclosure, one kset of said conduitscommunicating in parallel circuit relation with one of said manifoldsand the other set of said conduits communicating in parallel circuitrelation with the other of said manifolds, both sets of said conduitsbeing in open communication 50 with saidgaseous refrigerant outletconnection,

'and means dividing the enclosure into superimposed compartments, saidmeans having a refrigerant duct provided therein and forming a portionof said passages.

5. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform a plurality'of walls of an enclosure, a liquid refrigerant inletconnection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet connection for saidevaporator, a plurality of refrigerant conveying ducts formed by andlocated between said sheet metal members in at least'one wall of saidenclosure to provide said evaporator with an air lcooling zone, saidplurality of refrigerant ducts communicating with one another (,-5 andwith said outlet connection, a refrigerant conveyingconduitr extendingthrough said enclosure to provide a `freezing zone therein, saidrefrigerant conduit communicating with` said refrigerant ducts andy withsaid inlet connection to 70 provide between said refrigerant inlet andoutlet connections of said evaporator a refrigerantrflow circuitincluding an extended portion in series with saidinlet connection andanother portion in parallel circuit relation with said outletconnection.

duits formed by and located between Vsaid sheet' -said enclosure into aplurality of compartments,

a refrigerant conveying conduit formed in said means to provide afreezing zone within said enclosure, said refrigerant conduitcommunicating with said refrigerant ducts and with said inlet connectionto provide between said refrigerant inlet and outlet connections of saidevaporator a refrigerant flow circuit including an extended portion inseries with said inlet` connection and another, portion in parallelcircuit relation with said outlet connection.

'7. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform a plurality of walls of an enclosure, a liquid refrigerant inletconnection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet connection for saidevaporator, a plurality of refrigerant conveying ducts formed by and/located between said sheet mctal members in at least one wall of saidenclosure to provide said evaporator with an air cooling zone, saidplurality of refrigerant ducts communicating with one another and withsaid outlet connection, means dividing said enclosure into a pluralityof compartments, a refrigerant conveying `conduit formed in said meansand providing a freezing zone within said enclosure, said refrigerant vconduit including a portion formed by and located between said sheetmetal members in atleast one wall of said enclosure, one end of s aidrefrigerant conduit being in communication with said refrigerant ductsand the opposite end thereof being in communication with said inletconnection to provide between said refrigerant inlet and outletconnections of said evaporator a refrigerant flow circuit including anextended portion in series with said inlet connection and anotherportion in parallel circuit relation with said outlet connection.

8. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform four walls of an enclosure, a liquid refrigerant inlet connectionand a gaseous refrigerant outlet connection in the top wall of saidenclosure, a plurality of refrigerant conveying ducts formed by andlocated between said sheet metal members in a plurality of walls of saidenclosure to provide said evaporator with an air cooling zone, saidplurality of refrigerant ducts communicating with one another and withsaid outlet connection, a refrigerant conveying lconduit extendinghorizontally through said enclosure to divide the enclosure into twosuperimposed sharp freezing compartments, said refrigerant conduit beingin communication with said refrigerant ducts and with said inletconnection to provide between said refrigerant inlet and youtlet;connections of said evaporator a refrigerant flow circuit including anextended portion in series with said inlet connection and anotherportion in parallel circuit relation with said outlet connection.

9. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform four Walls of an enclosure, a liquid refrigerant inlet connec tionand a gaseous refrigerant outlet connection in the top wall of saidenclosure, a plurality of refrigerantvconveying ducts formed by'andlocated between said sheet metal members in a plurality of walls of saidenclosure and communicating with said outlet connection to provide saidevaporator with an air cooling zone, a manifold formed by and locatedbetween said sheet metal members in the bottom wall of said enclosure,each of said refrigerant conveying ducts communicating with saidmanifold, a refrigerant conveying conduit extending horizontally throughsaid enclosure to divide the enclosure into two superimposed sharpfreezing compartments, said refrigerant conduit communicating with saidmanifold and with said inlet connection to provide between saidrefrigerant inlet and outlet connections of saidevaporator a refrigerantflow circuit including an extended portion in series with said inletconnection and another portion in parallel circuit relation with saidoutlet connection.

10. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform a plurality of walls of a freezing enclosure, a liquid refrigerantinlet connection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet connection in the topwall of said enclosure, a manifold passage formed by and located betweensaid sheet metal members in one wall of said enclosure and communicatingwith said outlet connection, a second manifold passage formed by andlocated between said sheet metal members in another wall of saidenclosure, a refrigerant conveying duct having a portion thereof formedby and located between said sheet metal members and communicating withsaid inlet connection, a plurality of refrigerant conveying conduitsformed by and located between said sheet metal members and communicatingwith said rst named manifold passage, said refrigerant duct includingmeans communicating with said second named manifold passage, and saidsecond named manifold passage communicating with said plurality ofrefrigerant conduits to provide between the inlet and outlet connectionsof said evaporator a refrigerant ow circuit including an eX- tendedportion in series with said inlet connection and another portion inparallel circuit relation with said outlet connection, a portion of themeans permitting communication of said refrigerant duct with said secondnamed manifold passage including means dividing said enclosure intosuperimposed compartments and providing a refrigerated support withinthe enclosure adapted to receive a receptacle to be cooled.

ll, An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal members bent toform a plurality of walls of a freezing enclosure, a liquid refrigerantinlet connection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet connection in the topwall of said enclosure, a manifold passage formed by and located betweensaid sheet metal members in the top wall of said enclosure andcommunicating with said outlet connection, a'second manifold passageformed by and located between said sheet metal members in the bottomwall of said enclosure, a refrigerant conveying duct having a portionthereof formed by and located between said sheet metal members andcommunicating with said inlet connection, a plurality of refrigerantconveying conduits formed by and located between said sheet metalmembers and communicating with saidfirst named manifold passage, saidrefrigerant duct including means communicating with said second namedmanifold passage, and said second named manifold passage comf municatingwith said plurality of refrigerant conduits to provide between the inletand outlet connections of said evaporator a refrigerant flow circuitincluding an extended portion in series with said inlet connection andanother portion inparallel circuit relation with said outlet connection,a portion of the means permitting communication of said refrigerant ductwith said second named manifold passage including means dividing saidenclosure into superimposed` compartments and providing a refrigeratedsupport within the enclosure adapted to receive a receptacle to becooled.

12'. An evaporator' comprising superimposed metallic sheet-likeportionsbent to form a plurality of walls of a freezing compartment, a liquidrefrigerant inlet connection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet connectionboth in one wall of said compar ment, a plurality of manifolds formed byand located between said sheet-like portions in a wall other than thewall in which the inlet and outlet connections communicate, two passageseach having at least a portion thereof formed by and located betweensaid sheet-like portions, one of said passages communicating with saidinlet connection and with one kof said manifolds and the other of saidpassages communicating with said inlet connection and with the other ofsaid manifolds'to provide paths of flow for refrigerant from said'inletconnection to said manifolds, two sets of a plurality of conduits formedVby and located between said sheet-like portions and traversing at leasta plurality of walls of said compartment, one set of said conduitscommunicating in parallel circuit relation with one of said manifoldsand the other setof said conduits communicating in parallel circuitrelation with the other of said manifolds, and both sets of saidconduits being in open communication with said gaseous refrigerantoutlet connection.

13. An evaporator comprising superimposed metallic sheet-like portionsbent to form a plurality of walls of a'freezing compartment, a head.- erformed'by and located between said sheet-like portions in one wall ofsaid compartment, a gaseous refrigerant outlet connection communicatingwith said header, a liquid refrigerant inlet connection in the same wallin which the header is formed, a plurality of manifolds formed by andlocated between said sheet-like portions in a wall of said compartmentother than the wall in which said header is formed, two passages eachhaving at least a portion thereof formed by and located between saidsheet-like portions, one of said passages cornrnunicating with saidinlet connection and with one of said manifolds and the other of saidpassages communicating with said inlet connection and with the other ofsaid manifolds to provide paths of flow for refrigerant from said inletconnection to said manifolds, two sets of a plurality of conduits formedby and located between said sheet-like portions and traversing at leasta portion of a plurality of walls of said compartment, one set of saidconduits communicating in parallel circuit relation with one of saidmanifolds and the other set of said conduits communicating in parallelcircuit relation with the other of said manifolds, and both sets of saidconduits being in open communication with said header.

14. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus comprising sheet metalportions cooperating with one another to provide a refrigerant passagetherebetween, said cooperating sheet metal portions being arranged toprovide a portion for cooling air adapted to flow over said evaporatorand being formed to provide a plurality of Walls of a sharp freezingzone, sheet metal portions cooperating with one another to provide arefrigerant duct therebetween and arranged within said freezing zone toform a shelf for supporting a receptacle, the sheet metal portions ofsaid shelf being separate from and independent of the sheet metalportions of the air cooling portion of the evaporator, means cooperatingwith the shelf and with the walls of the freezing zone for spacing themajor portion of the shelf from the walls of the freezing zone, saidmeans comprising a conduit communicating with the refrigerant duct insaid shelf and with the refrigerant passage in the wall of the freezingzone, and means communicating with the refrigerant duct in said shelffor circulating refrigerant through said shelf duct and thence throughsaid conduit to the refrigerant passage in the wall of said freezingzone.

15. An evaporator comprising superimposed sheet metal portions arrangedto form a plurality of walls of a sharp freezing compartment, a liquidrefrigerant inlet connection and a gaseous refrigerant outlet connectionin the top wall of said compartment, a manifold passage formed by andlocated between said sheet metal portions in a wall of said compartmentother than the top wall thereof, a second manifold passage formed by andlocated between said sheet metal portions in a wall of said compartmentother than the top wall thereof, a refrigerant conveying duct having aportion thereof formed by and located between said sheet metal portionsand communicating with said inlet connection, two sets of refrigerantconveying passages formed by and located between said sheet metalportions and communicating with said outlet connection, said refrigerantduct communicating with each of said manifold passages and each of saidmanifold passages communicating with one of the sets of said refrigerantconveying passages for directing refrigerant downwardly from said inletconnection to each of said manifoldv passages and thence upwardly inmultiple through said refrigerant conveying passages to said outletconnection.

16. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus comprising s heet metalportions cooperating with one another to provide a refrigerant passagetherebetween, said cooperating sheet metal portions being arranged toprovide a yportion for cooling air adapted to flow over said evaporatorand being formed to provide a plurality of walls of a sharp freezingzone, sheet metal portions cooperating with one another' to provide arefrigerant duct therebetween and arranged within said freezing Azone toform a shelf for supporting a receptacle, the sheet metal portions ofsaid shelf being separate from and independent of the sheet metalportions of the air cooling portion of the evaporator, means cooperatingwith the shelf and with the walls of the freezing zone and forming thesole support for supporting the shelf in the freezing zone and forspacing the major portion of the shelf from the freezing zone walls,said means comprising a conduit communicating with the refrigerant ductin said shelf and with the refrigerant passage in the walls of saidfreezing zone, said conduit means being formed of a material separatefrom and independent of the sheet metal portions of the evaporator andthe shelf, and means communicating with the refrigerant duct in saidshelf for circulating refrigerant through said shelf duct and thencethrough said conduit to the refrigerant passage in the wall of saidfreezing zone.-

17. An evaporator comprising sheet-like metallic portions securedtogether and formed to provide a plurality of walls of a freezingchamber, a liquid refrigerant inlet connection and a refrigerant outletheader in the upper portion of the walls of the freezing chamber, amanifold formed between said sheet-like portions and located in thelower portion of a wall of the freezing chamber, a plurality ofrefrigerant passages formed between said sheet-like portions andcommunicating with said manifold and with said refrigerant outletheader, means for conveying re,- frigerant from said inlet connection tosaid manifold, and said evaporator being provided with a receptaclesupporting shelf having passages for refrigerant therein, and a conduitfor conducting refrigerant from the inlet connection to the shelf.

18. An evaporator comprising sheet-like metallic portions securedtogether and formed to provide a plurality of walls of a freezingchamber, a liquid refrigerant inlet connection and a refrigerant outletconnection in the upper portion of the walls of the freezing chamber, aheader formed between said sheet-like portions communicating with saidoutlet connection and located in the upper portion of a wall of thefreezing chamber, a refrigerant distributing manifold formed betweensaid sheet-like portions and located in the lower'portion of a wall ofthe freezing chamber, a plurality of refrigerant passages formed betweensaid sheet-like portions and communicating with both of ,said header andmanifold, and means for conveying refrigerant from said inlet connectionto said lower refrigerant distributing manifold including refrigerantconveying means dividing said freezing chamberA into superimposedchambers and providing a support within said chamber for the receptionof a receptacle to be cooled.

ERNEST DICKEY.

